Using a TENS unit for Back Pain

Posted by Brandon M.
on
February 01, 2016

Where do I place the pads for Back Pain?

Back Pain. Two words
that almost every single person in the world above the age of 25 has
experienced at one time or another. It
can come on suddenly and out of nowhere; it can last for days, weeks, months,
or even become a chronic condition and stay with people 24/7/365. For anyone that has ever experienced this,
you know it is a feeling you would not wish upon your worst enemy. There truly is an upper and lower back pain
epidemic in the world today that millions suffer from.

Most of the time, back pain will resolve in a couple of days
or weeks but that time can feel like an eternity. And, unfortunately, some people’s symptoms
will not improve and they will end up undergoing a variety of tests (MRIs, CT
scans, bone scans, etc) and possibly even resorting to some form of surgical
procedure.

The causes are numerous and can be anything from arthritis
to bulging/ruptured discs to muscle strains from heavy lifting. One can even experience back pain from stress.
Regardless of the cause, there is a very popular and effective treatment for
many types of back pain: TENS therapy.

How can a TENS
unit help with back pain?

A portable TENS unit (click
here if you are unfamiliar
with what these electrotherapy devices are) is a great non-invasive, drug-free
treatment for all types of back pain.
These can be worn on basically any part of the back and are designed to
combat both acute and chronic back pain.
The most common areas are lower back pain, upper back pain between the shoulder
blades, and upper middle back pain. A
TENS machine can be used anytime you are in pain and typically 10-30 minutes
is all that is needed to experience noticeable relief. The amount of relief one will experience is
different for everyone, but on average, most people will find themselves using
the machine a couple times a week (however it is safe to use every day). Pad placement is easy and intuitive: electrode pads are placed in the area where
you are experiencing pain. The one area
you want to avoid when using a tens unit on the back is directly on the spine,
which typically feels uncomfortable.

Proper Electrode
Placement When Using a TENS Unit for the Back

As mentioned above, the tens unit pads can be placed virtually
anywhere on the back. A general rule is
to place the first electrode pad directly where you are feeling pain. The second pad is needed to complete the
circuit and can be placed horizontally or vertically from the first pad. If you are experiencing general lower back
pain, you will want to place a pad on each side of the spine (see illustration
below). If the pain is isolated and in
one area, then you can place the second pad directly next to the first pad or just
above or below the first pad (see illustration).

Check out our
tens unit reviews and consider
purchasing a unit from Utopia Gear to help manage your pain. The reviews reflect our high level of
customer service as well as the superior products we sell. And if you already have a TENS unit and want to experience a modern device that is not only TENS but also electronic muscle stimulation(more of a pleasant feeling), order here. We are here to
answer any questions you may have. Email us at
customerservice@utopiagear.com
or call us anytime at 888-237-4997.